Terrestrial Laser Scanner is a ground based LiDAR system for capturing accurate and dense point cloud (i.e. millions of points with their X,Y,Z coordinates) at high speed.  It is an active sensor which emits laser pulses for measuring the distances to objects remotely. We have procured ILRIS3₆D^ER from Optech Inc. Canada, which can measure the coordinates of millions of points on the surface of an object.  Point density is generally very high resulting in quasi range images of object.  Sensors like GPS and digital camera can also be integrated with ILRIS3₆D^ER.  The ILRIS3D₆^ER can measure up to a range of 1500m.  The instrument permits 360⁰ scanning. 

TLS is a revolutionary technology due the speed at which it can capture a large number of accurate measurements at high speed.  The bottlenecks faced in problem solving using the conventional technologies are eliminated.  This is the reason that this technology is finding use in several areas.  The most noticeable applications are:  

1. Digital modelling and archiving of heritage and other structures

2. Landslide monitoring

3. Industrial as-built surveying (Electric power houses, Refineries)

4. Geological interpretation (Rock surface, volcano, coastal/riverine geomorphology)

5. Terrain mapping for large scale maps and 3D terrain modelling, etc.

6. Vegetation characterisation

7. Corridor (highway, railway, pipeline inventorying)

8. Highly precise (Interval ~ 10cm) and accurate contour mapping.

9. Large scale mapping

10. Drainage planning and flood control measure designing

The list of application areas is large and several new applications are possible in view of the potential that the technology holds.   

For more details and use of this instrument please contact:

Dr. Bharat Lohani
Associate Professor
Department of Civil Engineering
IIT Kanpur
Kanpur 208 016, INDIA
Tel: +91-512-259 7413 O, +91-512-259 8719 R
http://home.iitk.ac.in/~blohani/